Man’s anger on number plate mix-up parking penalty

A person was wrongly released with parking charge when his car was mixed with another vehicle with an almost identical number plate.

Richard Lynn said on 18 March 2024, he paid £ 1.70 to park for about 30 minutes at Rashtan’s Yard Car Park at Asbi, Lecesterreshire, but later received a demand of £ 165 from the Solicitor representing private firm horizon parking.

The 53-year-old said that the photographic evidence provided by the company showed his Hyundai entering the car park-but left a key with a letter with a similar number plate bar nine hours later with a letter.

Horizon Parking said that it was written to Mr. Lynn on 25 July that the issue was corrected, but he said that he had not been confirmed.

Referring to the situation, Mr. Lynn said: “It is ridiculous. They have different cars with clearly different plates, but they have not yet checked properly.

“The result is that I received a very bad letter, I was threatened with legal action. If I did not pay the penalty, I should not have been issued in the first place.”

On 25 March 2024, a letter was sent to Mr. Lynn seeking £ 85 – £ 51 if he paid within 14 days.

However, he said that he was only aware of the matter only in July this year – when he received a letter from a Solicitor acting from the horizon parking, demanding £ 165.

Mr. Lynn said that he went home in December 2022, but he said that he was accidentally, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) not informed “In the beginning of 2024” changes of their address for some time.

He said that his address was later updated, but it is believed that the first correspondence could be sent to his old house.

Horizon Parking said that it was originally written to Mr. Lynn, sent reminders on 25 March 2024, then on 24 March 2024, on 24 April and 24 May.

Mr. Lynn said: “The fact is that none of those letters should have been sent to the first place.

“The way there is no humanity in the way it has been dealt with, either in the context of seeing those number plates and seeing the mistake – or in the aggressive letter sent by them.

“I almost paid them to go away, but I pushed back because it was a clear mistake.

“They were everything [automatic number plate recognition] The evidence and they did not see the plates – while the same – were different. This beggars believe that no one has investigated.

“My fear is that a lot of such errors occur, but most people pay just because they are afraid of dragging and paying heavy legal fees, even if they do not commit crimes.

“I am very angry about the whole thing.”

A horizon parking spokesperson told the BBC that the case was fixed when it was brought to his attention.

The BBC asked the firm to clarify whether it means that the allegations were canceled, and that possible legal proceedings were stopped, but refused to say this.

It said that he wrote to Mr. Lynn with Ashbi, to inform him, but he said that he had not received a letter from the company.

A statement of horizon parking states, “We make every effort with our procedures to release the right parking fee.”

“We will investigate to see how we can improve, but will encourage drivers to appeal in circumstances where the parking fee may be incorrect, allowing the case to be resolved in the initial stage.

“Unfortunately, we did not get an appeal and the parking fee so proceeded through our recovery methods.

“Once the matter was brought to our attention, it was fixed.”